central balkan & national parks

Central Balkan and Rila National Parks are members of the PAN Parks network, which ensures that you are visiting parks also encompassing the best of ’s wilderness! The parks have been recognized by the PAN Parks Foundation as excellent European protected areas which offer wilderness: a huge territory with untouched nature.

In the wilderness area nature is let develop on its own, native species roam free, while human intervention is not allowed. The area is of outstanding beauty, its extraordinary natural values are among our most valuable European treasures and heritage. The well-protected area’s great size gives a real space to thrive.

In other sections of the parks there are high quality tourism facilities, well balanced with wilderness protection and sustainable local development. The park management co-operates closely with the people who live around the park.

Local businesses, certified based on environmental standards and their commitment to conservation, are recognised by the PAN Parks logo, this guarantees that your visit contributes to the protection of nature. These partners are knowledgeable about the parks and offer exciting activities to enable you to have a unique experience also of European wilderness. WILDERNESS FEATURES

CENTRAL BALKAN NATIONAL PARK

Magnificent forests An impressive feature of Central Balkan’s wilderness is its large untouched beech forests composed of trees with an average age of 135 years hosting a huge diversity of species including rich wildlife of global significance.

Diverse wildlife The national park is sanctuary to rare and endangered mammals such as the brown bear, the wolf, the marten, the otter, the wild cat or the Balkan chamois. A total of 220 bird species with rare eagles and owls also adds to the biodiversity of Central Balkan National Park.

Mountainous wilderness 20 of Central Balkan’s peaks rise to 2,000 meters or above. The mountain relief of the park is product of mighty geological processes: the activity of water, wind and glaciers formed the rounded ridges alternating with vertical rock faces, precipices, a system of deep and narrow canyons, and caves. Moreover, Central Balkan boasts of some of the highest and most amazing waterfalls in . central balkan & rila national parks

Central Balkan National Park was certified as a PAN Park in 2003. The total area of Central Balkan is 71,669 ha, from which 29 % belongs to the wilderness area.

RILA NATIONAL PARK

Rich vegetation Rila National Park hosts the world’s most representative ecosystems of spruce and fir, including the tallest spruce trees of Bulgaria emerging over 60 metres. They are represented in combination with dwarf pine and the endemic Macedonian pine. The most outstanding wilderness value of these coniferous forests lies in their natural origin: almost 95% of them is untouched by human hand.

Abundant wildlife These forests provide safe home to the largest populations of the Golden eagle, the capercaillie, the hazel hen, the rock partridge, the Tengmalm’s owls, the marten and the Balkan chamois in Bulgaria.

Glacial lakes The name ‘Rila’ is thought to mean ‘well-watered mountain’ which refers to the high number of glacial lakes shaped as post-glacial terrain forms and to some of the ' longest and deepest rivers originating in the national park’s area.

Majestic mountains Rila encompasses more than 140 peaks higher than 2,000 metres including the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula, (, 2,925 m above sea level) adorned by alpine ridges, cliffs, screes, as well as several caves and gorges.

Rila National Park attained certification in 2005. Rila covers 81,046 ha, 20 % of which belongs to the wilderness area.

SUPPORTING WILDERNESS CONSERVATION

By participating in this trip you financially contribute to the conservation work of the PAN Parks Foundation that to protect Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed areas of nature.

For more information visit: http://www.panparks.org/visit/our-parks/central-balkan-national-park and http://www.panparks.org/visit/our-parks/rila-national-park